Wang Mu Streamway., Malaysia Feb 08

The Wang Mu streamway is in the state park in Perlis close to the Thai border in northern Malaysia, and like many of the caves in this area was previously mined for Tin.

This expedition was organised by and is part of the ongoing work of, the Malaysian Karst Society (MKS) http://www.mykarst.org/ This visit was carried out by Hymeir Kamarudin (Exped leader), Ganason Nadason, Ang and myself. Permission to enter the cave was obtained from the Forestry Department.

Millions of years ago streams that flowed through the area picked up sediments rich in cassiterite (Tin Ore) and deposited it in cavities in the caves. Theses Tin ore pockets can be as little as a few inches to several feet deep. Mining such deposits mostly leaves the cave intact and natural as only the sediment is removed. Only in places where the cave passageways are too small was blasting used to enlarge or to connect up to other passages to make movement of people and/or Tin ore easier. Due to a drop in Tin prices the last of the mining activities ceased and the caves abandoned sometime in the 80s although we saw signs of recent digging that could suggest that someone, most likely someone from the neighborhood, is going in there and still working the cave hoping to find a rich pocket, . See: http://www.wildasia.net/main.cfm?page=article&articleID=190

There are many more caves in the area and MKS objective is to systematically explore and survey the caves for a better understanding of the mining history and to uncover what we suspect is the longest cave system in Peninsular Malaysia and among the longest in region. Both Gua Lo Po Sang and Gua Baba have many side passages that await exploration.

The object of this current visit was to explore several side passages and carry out some surveying. In total approx 477m of new passage was surveyed and much more explored. It looks as if with the connection now established to Gua Lo Po Sang almost 4KM of passageway exists here

In total almost 16hours was spent in the cave exploring and surveying. Parts of the cave are water filled so floatation devices were carried and used to cross water filled areas. Many old mining tools and equipment was seen in the cave much of it calcited up. Some parts of the original wooden walkways still stand but great care was needed to cross them as in places they were rotten through and collapsed under foot